Linen backing has been used for over 100 years to preserve posters. Aside from my movie posters, I collect French Opera posters that mostly date to 1903-1910. Many were linen-backed to prevent cracking, chipping and tearing etc. The newbies in the business have rather recently begun shunning the idea of linen-backing in favor of natural, un-retouched posters. Personally, I don't like displaying posters with fold lines and chips. I realize I am now in the minority but as far as I'm concerned, it's a matter of aesthetics and personal taste. Most of the posters I've had framed for display in my home have been linen-backed and I wouldn't have it any other way.
As for the posters of lesser value that you find in many on-line auctions, you have to beware because many times these posters are loaded with paint to cover flaws in the original poster and some of these paint jobs are NOT professional restoration. They look more like amateur artists and/or art students crudely touching up the posters. This should not in any way be taken as a comment on some of the posters you referred to in Bruce's auction which I have not at all inspected. This is just a general statement about touch-up work on some lesser valued posters that have been linen backed. FRANC From: MoPo List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tommy Barr Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 11:27 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [MOPO] Linen backing Interesting, Rich. Christies in London recommended to me some time ago that I should linenback my posters. On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 6:16 PM, Richard Halegua Posters + Comic Art <[email protected]> wrote: Tommy people do have a belief in many cases that linenbacking a poster is what you're supposed to do while myself and other believe linenbacking is only done for restorative purposes yet other people believe that linenbacking adds value to a poster regardless of condition (I don't) I've actually been replacing all my linenbacked material as I can find the items why anyone would back a Striptease poster is beyond me Rich At 09:55 AM 3/21/2014, Tommy Barr wrote: I just had a look at Bruce's preview and I have to say it is pretty amazing. What surprises me, though, is some of the posters which people have gone to the expense of having linenbacked, and I wonder at what point does that become a viable option. I am using EMP sales as an example here, but I imagine it is the same across the board. 'The Big Hangover' (1950) is listed as 'good to very good' in linen, but that is a poster which normally sells for around $20-25 in that condition, folded. As having a poster backed and foldlines retouched by a reputable restorer would cost at least $120, that means the poster should fetch around $150 at least, but that is unlikely to be the case. 'Striptease' (1996), again in very good condition maybe $25, but how much more would you pay for one linenbacked? Taking just one example from EMP (though it is not hard to find others) - 'Bite The Bullet' (1985), very good, folded, sold for $4 last year, and one in similar condition, linenbacked, sold for $28, also last year. That means the added value for restoration and backing was only $24, probably at least one fifth of the actual cost. So at what point does the expense become worthwhile? I appreciate that, as a matter of personal taste, someone may wish to have a poster framed and displayed to best advantage, and so has it backed, regardless of actual value, but do they expect that the cost will be recouped on resale? Really, I am just curious here, as I would only ever have higher value posters backed. Anyway, even the prices realised for higher value ones do not necessarily always reflect the cost of restoration, something which I have gratefully taken advantage of in the past, and hope I may do so again! Which, I have to say, make EMP's Signature Auctions quite exciting events (no remuneration was made by Bruce to have me highlight his listings, but hey, I'm open to offers!) Tommy _____ To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L <https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1> &A=1 _____ To unsubscribe from the MoPo-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L <https://listserv.american.edu/scripts/wa-american.exe?SUBED1=MoPo-L&A=1> &A=1 Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [email protected] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
